Undergraduate Degree Programs

The Department of World Languages and Literatures offers five undergraduate majors, 12 undergraduate minors, five undergraduate certificates and instruction the following additional languages Ancient Greek, Korean, Modern Hebrew, Latin, Norwegian, Persian, Portuguese, and Swedish. The department also offers instruction in the following heritage languages: Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Admission Requirements and Placement

Admission to the department is based on general admission to the University.  See Admissions Requirements for more information.

Students majoring in French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish are required to demonstrate proficiency at a level determined by the individual language program before being admitted to 400-level courses.

Restrictions

The language sequences 101, 102, 103 (or 150, 151) and 201, 202, 203 must be taken in order. Students who have received credit for any one of these may not subsequently receive credit for any of the lower numbered courses. This restriction also applies to transfer credits and credits earned by examination.

Native speakers (defined as students whose formal secondary education was completed in the foreign language) may not register for first-through fourth-year language courses, nor may they receive credit by exam for their native language.

Students walking across the street on the PSU campus

World Languages Major Requirements

Review the PSU Bulletin for the most accurate requirements for World Language Bachelor of Arts in French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.

World Languages Minor Requirements

Review the PSU Bulletin for the most accurate requirements for minors in American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Persian, Russian, and Spanish.

Overseas and Intensive Programs

Students of world foreign languages are encouraged to improve their language skills by participating in one of the many study-abroad and overseas internship opportunities offered through Portland State and the Oregon State System of Higher Education.  Programs ranging from one term to a full academic year are available in several foreign counties, including China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and Spain.  The Department of World Languages and Literatures and the University's Office of Global Engagement & Innovation: Education Abroad will counsel and assist students in integrating their overseas experience with their courses of academic study.

Undergraduate Degree Programs